Tanzania: Pemba Overwhelmed By Pregnancies in Schools

Zanzibar — IN efforts to minimise pregnancies amongst school girls, Zanzibar has introduced awareness campaign in all its schools so that students can avoid getting involved in early sexual relationships; the House was informed on Friday.

Responding to questions from Ms Shadya Mohammed Suleiman (Women), the Minister for Social Welfare, Youths, Children, and Women Development, Ms Zainabu Mohamed, said in the House that the number of pregnancies in schools in Pemba Island is overwhelming.

"We also plan to review our laws with the objective of having a tougher punishment for perpetrators," the minister said as the Attorney General (AG), Othman Masoud Othman, said that even girls who force boys and men into sex will also be prosecuted under the existing laws. Some legislators argue that parents and the community in general have contributed towards moral decay in society.

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